Bates Numbering
Sequential identification numbers stamped onto each page of a PDF, commonly used in legal discovery to give every page a unique reference.
Bates numbering is a convention used in legal and regulatory work where every page of every document receives a unique sequential identifier. The practice dates back to a 19th-century mechanical stamp called the Bates stamper, and the name stuck.
What Bates numbers look like
A Bates number is typically a short alphabetical prefix plus a zero-padded sequential counter, sometimes with a suffix. Examples:
- `DOC-000001`
- `PLAINTIFF-00042`
- `SMITH_001234_CONFIDENTIAL`
Across a production of a few hundred thousand pages, each page gets its own stamp. If you later need to reference page 47,293 of an exhibit, the Bates number gives you a precise, unambiguous identifier.
Why it matters in litigation
Legal discovery often involves millions of pages produced by both sides. Without a canonical identifier, referring to "page 47 of the financial report" is ambiguous. Bates numbers make every page referenceable in court filings, depositions, and judicial rulings.
Tools
- Bates Numbering applies sequential Bates stamps to every page of a PDF, with prefix, suffix, starting number, and position controls.
- Page Numbers is the general-purpose tool for simple page numbers in non-legal contexts.